Harbor Beach unveils its new look

MATT TREADWELL

Published 8:00 pm, Tuesday, October 26, 2004

Mayor Ed Ramsey said the event made for a "historical day in Harbor Beach history." And he thanked local citizens and business people for having patience as the project kept the city's downtown under construction through the summer.

"This has really made Harbor Beach a better place to be," he said. "Everyone needs to be given credit because their positive outlook made for a better project."

The more than $3.5 million downtown enhancement project was completed in three phases beginning March 29. In all, 1.4 miles of roadway, storm and sanitary sewers, curbs and gutters, and streetscape designs were enhanced or replaced.

While Tuesday's ribbon cutting ceremony at the intersection of M-25 and M-142 officially opened the roadway to public traffic, Michigan Department of Transportation Manager Doug Wilson said construction crews will still be on site for about one more week.

"There is still some clean up and last minute odds and ends that need completing," Wilson said.

State Sen. Jim Barcia, D-Bay City, and state Rep. Tom Meyer, R-Bad Axe, also were on hand Tuesday to celebrate the project's completion.

Barcia said talks about Harbor Beach's downtown improvement first began around 1980.

"It's nice to see this happen," Barcia said. "Harbor Beach is really a beautiful community."

Meyer said he was happy to see the downtown street smoothed out.

"I drove through here a lot when it was bumpy," Meyer laughed. "It looks better now."

The project was paid for mostly through federal and state dollars. The city of Harbor Beach contributed $336,730.

Almost everyone who spoke at Tuesday's event commended city officials, contractors led by the Saginaw-based Kalin Construction, and MDOT officials for their cooperative efforts on the project.